We live our lives torn in many directions. From the moment we wake up there are a hundred and one claims on our time. We have to look after our homes and our families. We have to go to work and deal with a whole range of tasks from the very important to the totally banal. We have to fill in forms, pay bills, make
Do we fondly imagine that people ought to love us just the way we are? We are told often enough that God loves us warts and all. But do we carry this belief through life with not much thought of betterment? In today’s parable a king invites guests to his son’s wedding. When the guests refuse to turn up, the king extends the invitation to
What happens when we forget that our lives are a gift from God? What happens when we forget that humankind is God’s creation? What happens when we forget that the planet we live on belongs to God? Today’s parable describes a landowner who leaves tenants in charge of his vineyard. But at harvest time the tenants refuse to pay their rent, failing to recognise the
There’s a well-known saying that goes, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” We all know what it’s like to have endless good intentions, but the good intentions are worth little if we don’t actually roll our sleeves up and get things done. A father asks two sons to go and work in the vineyard. The first son says that he won’t but
One of the most expensive department stores holds a sale and shoppers form a queue. The most ardent bargain hunters bring sleeping bags and queue overnight. Other shoppers arrive five minutes before the sale. When the store finally opens the doors the queue surges forward in a frenzy. Shoppers ‘push in’ from every direction greedy for the bargains. Does this make us cross? Of course
“Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.” Just imagine what sort of world we would live in if this simple statement could become a reality. Imagine feeling the relief of being forgiven for our sins and in turn, forgiving those who had sinned against us. Imagine the same people forgiving those who had sinned against them and so on
